Infinix Zero 5G Smartphone Full Review Part I

Introduction:

Infinix has recently gained popularity because of its great mid-range phones like the Infinix Note 11 Pro and Zero X Pro. The Chinese Transsion Holdings company has acquired a substantial market share in Africa and South Asia with sibling businesses Tecno and Itel and has been looking to expand its global reach.

Following up on our review of the Zero X Pro, which we thought was a great deal, we now get to look at the Zero 5G, Infinix’s first 5G phone. The Infinix Zero 5G comes with a 120Hz 6.78-inch LCD, a large 5,000 mAh battery, and a stylish “uni-curve” design.

Infinix Zero 5G Specifications in a Nutshell:

• Glass front, plastic frame, and plastic back; 168.7×76.5×8.8mm, 200g
• Display: 6.78″ IPS LCD, 120Hz, 500 nits (peak), 1080x2460px resolution, 20.5:9 aspect ratio, 388ppi, 10.78″ IPS LCD, 120Hz, 500 nits (peak), 1080x2460px resolution, 20.5:9 aspect ratio, 388ppi
• Octa-core (2×2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55); Mali-G68 MC4. Chipset: MediaTek MT6877 Dimensity 900 5G (6 nm): Octa-core (2×2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 6×2.0 GHz Cortex-A55); Mali-G68 MC4.
• 128 GB, 8 GB RAM, UFS 3.1, microSDXC (dedicated slot).
• Android 11 and XOS 10 are the operating systems and software used.
• Wide (main): 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm, 1/2.0″, 0.8m, PDAF; Telephoto: 13 MP, f/2.5, 50mm, 1/3.1″, 1.12m, PDAF, 2x optical zoom; Depth: 2 MP; Wide (main): 48 MP, f/1.8, 26mm, 1/2.0″, 0.8m, PDAF; Telephoto: 13 MP, f/2.5, 50mm, 1/3.1″, 1.12
• Front camera: 16 MP, f/2.0, 1/2.76″, 1.12m, f/2.0, f/2.0, f/2.0, f/2.0, f/2.0, f/2.0, f/2.0
• Video capture: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps for the rear camera; 1080p@30fps for the front camera.
• 5000mAh battery; 33W fast charging.
• Other features include a side-mounted fingerprint reader, an FM radio, and a 3.5mm jack.
• Infinix’s range has been a little confused lately, but the short version is that “Zero” is the company’s flagship family, which is counterintuitive. Despite being the company’s first 5G handset, the Zero 5G is a low-ranking family member. It’s a little better than the Zero X Neo, but it’s nowhere near as well-equipped as the Infinix Zero X and Zero X Pro without the chipset. The less expensive Infinix Note 11 Pro outperforms the Zero 5G with stereo speakers, a larger display, and a higher-resolution primary camera.

 

 

However, since performance and connectivity are undoubtedly the two most crucial components of current smartphones, the Infinix Zero 5G could have a hidden gem. The MediaTek Dimensity 900 is a significant step forward for the company, which had previously relied on MediaTek G processors. Infinix chose fast UFS 3.1 storage and LPDDR5X RAM to complement it, boosting its capabilities.

 

Unboxing:

When it comes to accessories, Infinix is liberal. This isn’t a regular sight in today’s smartphone market. With a two-piece construction and a robust and solid cardboard cradle for the phone on the inside, the retail box for the Zero 5G is quite substantial and sturdy. The rest of the accessories are packaged in plastic, not the most environmentally friendly option. It’s a little niggle, but these things quickly grow out of hand, and we hope Infinix would reconsider and go with more cardboard instead.

A 33W charger is included in the box. It has a 5V@2A or 10W@3.3A rating and a short yet durable USB Type-A to Type-C cable. To accommodate the way Infinix has its 33W charging set up, you’ll probably want to keep it or only replace it with other 5A-marked lines.

 

A transparent TPU case of reasonable quality and excellent grip is also included. It even has a lip around the camera island to protect it. Last but not least, Infinix has included a pair of wired headphones with an inbuilt microphone. There’s nothing showy about it, yet it still adds to a lot of value.

Design:

The Infinix Zero 5G design is unique, especially around the camera island. The way the back surface curls and slopes onto the camera assembly immediately reminds me of the Oppo Find X3. While Infinix could mimic the significantly more expensive Oppo’s appearance closely, it could not match the Find X3’s build quality due to its plastic construction.

The Zero 5G has a two-piece construction overall, with a unibody shell on the back and a front display component slotted into it. The sides are curved and smooth to the point that the Zero 5G is slick. We recommend using a case just for grip.

 

Aside from that, the gleaming surface Infinix has achieved a fingerprint magnet. When in use, it appears to be oily and filthy all of the time.

In terms of ergonomics, the Zero 5G’s camera hump is so large and weirdly shaped that it wobbles a lot on a flat surface. So, while Infinix’s so-called uni-curve design looks good, it’s not practical ergonomics.

 

The colour scheme, on the other hand, is appealing to us. Cosmic Black, Skylight Orange, and Horizon Blue, for example, are said to be inspired by “faraway galaxies,” “the dazzling and invigorating sun,” and “the fascinating sky,” respectively. Skylight Orange appears to have a rough finish on the back, which might help with the grime and grease concerns we had with our unit. We can’t say for sure because we haven’t seen it.

On the bright side, at 199 grams, the Zero 5G is relatively light, thanks in part to its bill of materials. When you consider the 5,000 mAh battery within, the thickness of 8.77mm is entirely appropriate.

 

Quality of Construction and Materials:

Because the Zero 5G is a low-cost device, its body is made of plastic. Infinix describes it as a “composite material that resembles the look and feels of glass to create an attractive smartphone that feels premium to the touch,” but that’s just a fancy way of saying “plastic.”

 

However, we agree that the material does an excellent job simulating glass. Although we would have chosen a matte surface that collects fewer fingerprints and grease, we do agree that the Zero 5G has a premium appearance and is pretty lovely from afar. When held in hand, though, its mid-range positioning is instantly apparent.

The back of the Zero 5G has a hollow feel, but the phone is otherwise solid and has little to no flex. However, neither an ingress protection rating nor a more durable piece of glass in front of the display are available.

 

Controls:

The control layout for the Zero 5G is relatively standard. That is, aside from the front-facing LED flash, which is located above the display in the upper right corner. Selfie flashes are available on several Infinix phones, despite being rare on mobile phones.

A light sensor and a proximity sensor are located next to it, especially for a low-cost smartphone. Likewise, the earpiece is neatly tucked away in the top bezel, giving the device a clean appearance. In case you were wondering, there is no notification LED there. A g-sensor, an e-compass, and a gyroscope are all included in the Zero 5G’s sensor set. Overall, the room is well-equipped, with no significant omissions.

 

On the downside, the Zero 5G lacks a stereo speaker configuration, even if it is a hybrid with an amplified earpiece. The Zero 5G’s single bottom-firing speaker is located adjacent to the Type-C connection, supporting USB 2.0 data speeds and 33W of charging. The primary microphone and a reliable old 3.5mm audio port are also on the bottom side. The Zero 5G uses the latter as well, thanks to the inbuilt FM radio receiver.

The volume rocker is on the right side of the Zero 5G, and it’s a pain to use. The keys are soft and mushy, with little travel or tactile sensation. At the very least, they’re vertically well-placed.

The power button/fingerprint reader combo, on the other hand, is fantastic. It has a beautiful “clicky” feel, and the fingerprint scanner is quick and accurate. There aren’t any issues.

 

The card tray is the only thing on the left bezel of the Zero 5G. It has two nano-SIM slots on one side and a microSD card on the other, and it is entirely functional. There’s no need to select and choose.

Except for the auxiliary noise-cancelling microphone, the top bezel of the Zero 5G is nearly barren.

 

Connectivity:

We don’t go over this area in most of our evaluations these days, but we do in the case of the Zero 5G because Infinix is emphasizing connectivity. Particularly noteworthy is its 5G modem, which supports 13 bands. The complete list is as follows: n38, n40, n41, n77, n78, n79 Sub6 TDD and n1, n3, n5, n7, n8, n20, and n28 Sub6 FDD. The official Infinix website specifies an X6715 device variant with all of the bands above and an X6715B device variant with a few of the FDD bands missing.

The MediaTek Dimensity 900 5G is responsible for Dual-SIM compatibility, True Dual 5G SIM (5G SA + 5G SA) standby, and VR on the Zero 5G. The Density 900 has 2×2 M-MIMO Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5.2 for local communication. An FM radio receiver is also included, as well as OTG compatibility. However, there is no NFC.

LCD 6.78″ 120Hz:

On paper, the Infinix Zero 5G has a reasonably good display: it measures 6.78 inches and has a native resolution of FullHD (1080 x 2460 pixels), which works out to a very respectable 388 PPI density at that size, and it can refresh at 120Hz, which is nice to see.

However, the phone’s real-world performance disappointed us. For starters, the panel can only reach around 499 nits of brightness when the slider is set to 100%, and the phone won’t get any brighter in auto mode, regardless of ambient conditions. That few nit means you’ll have trouble seeing what’s on the screen in bright sunlight.

The colour reproduction on the Zero 5G’s screen is all over the place, and Infinix has been having issues with it on at least a few of its devices. The problem is exacerbated by the fact that there are no colour profiles or adjustments available in software, so you’re stuck with the colour profile you get, which is way off the mark. It targets the sRGB colour space, but blues, in particular, are completely off, and cyan is the worst offender.

 

The display of the Zero 5G does not support HDR, and the phone is only certified for Google’s Widevine L3 DRM, which means it can only stream in SD quality on services like Netflix.

The final issue with the Infinix Zero 5G display panel is the prolonged pixel response time; it’s not bad in 60Hz mode, but in a 120Hz way, every scroll on more OK text becomes a blurry mess. Our best guess is that Infinix is simply using a lower-quality panel, thus pushing it and its RTC (Response Time Compensation) too hard, resulting in some ghosting or overshooting, primarily visible as white halos.

 

On a more positive side, Infinix has a reasonably capable arrangement for handling high refresh rate content, with three different modes in the settings. 60Hz works precisely as expected, locking the refresh rate at 60Hz.

In contrast, in some apps, 120Hz mode prefers 120Hz while still switching down to 90Hz or 60Hz to save battery. Unfortunately, Google Chrome works at 90Hz in this mode, but most other browsers aren’t.

We made sure to test a few games that were known to render at over 60fps, and all of them supported the 120Hz option, and while the Infinix Zero 5G doesn’t have a built-in fps meter, it ran at above 60fps as well.

The Auto-switch refresh rate mode tries to provide more dynamic refresh rate management. We noticed that the Infinix Zero 5G dropped down to 60Hz more frequently in auto mode, especially while playing video, which is essential for battery conservation. The problem is that this happens a lot for apps that could benefit from 120Hz, and Chrome only ran at 60Hz, which is particularly annoying.

We only got one game to function as predicted while in auto mode; out of the titles we already validated were running in a high refresh rate mode with more than 60fps, the rest were capped at 60fps.

Except for the auxiliary noise-cancelling microphone, the top bezel of the Zero 5G is nearly barren.

 

On top of Android 11, there’s XOS 10:

Infinix has its Android skin, XOS, which has gone through several variations over the years, so many that it’s challenging to keep track of them all. Our Infinix Note 10 Pro came with XOS 7.6, while the Note 11 Pro came with XOS 8 and was updated to XOS 10.

The Zero X Pro and the Zero 5G both arrived with the same XOS 10 out of the box, but they’re all based on Android 11, and there’s no indication of a future update to Android 12. XOS 10 is jam-packed with features and options, maybe to the point of becoming overwhelming.

Bloatware abounds, with Infinix including a number of its apps and third-party apps, many of which have overlapping feature sets. The crucial thing to note is that, despite the surge of apps, XOS 10 runs smoothly, with no glitches or stutters, indicating that Infinix has done an excellent job.

 

The extensive Theme support, which includes features like video slide shows, custom fonts, and an online Theme repository in a separate XTheme app, extends from the lock screen to the lock screen. As the leftmost desktop pane, the home screen features a custom feed and large folders to organize and categorize your shortcuts by default.

Of course, if you don’t like it, you can go back to just having a list of shortcuts on the home screens, without folders. And that’s just the beginning of the customization options: you can change the grid size, gestures, notification badges, and even text colour.

 

While the notification shade and control centre is not new with XOS 10, it is worth noting that they are separated into two separate entities. Notifications are called up with a swipe down from the top left of the phone, while a top-right swipe reveals quick toggles and other controls.

We won’t go over every feature and app available in XOS 10, but there are a few noteworthy highlights, many of which are housed in a dedicated Special function menu.

LightningSocial Turbo includes many robust tools that operate with WhatsApp to improve the factory experience. Multi-Window is a floating window implementation far from the greatest we’ve seen, but it is still usable. The same can be said with Smart Panel, which is one of the more customized versions of this feature. Social Tues MOL to translate text, but it also has a Face-to-Face translator component that can be used to have an in-person chat with a foreign speaker. Nothing that isn’t accessible as a third-party tool, but it’s still handy to have baked-in.

Other features include comprehensive gestures, program cloning (dubbed XClone), and gimmicks such as Peek Proof, which “conceal” screen areas for whatever reason. The Power Marathon app gives you complete control over battery endurance and power conservation and some interesting “smart” AI features. AI Assistant, which can monitor for various triggers, gather valuable data, and then send out notifications and propose activities in response, is one of the highlights of the new version 10 upgrade, and it’s worth checking out.

Another highlighted XOS 10 feature, or instead set of parts, is Monster Game Kit, which promises AI-driven game optimization, including frame rate stability, decreasing touch latency, and managing hardware performance and temperature. There is a system-wide Game Mode toggle and a Game Mode setting menu to tweak most of the behaviour.

The XArena software is a conventional game launcher with a few improvements, such as notification suppression and an in-game toolbar with tons of helpful shortcuts, including floating app compatibility; after adding an app to XArena, start it from there. An fps counter, better performance controls, and some capture/streaming capabilities are noticeable absences, but XOS 10 still outperforms most of its Android UI competitors in this regard.

There’s no denying that Infinix is putting forth a significant software effort, bordering on a dedicated ecosystem of its own. Take, for example, the Folax voice assistant, which appears to be a unique Infinix entry into the niche and is quite capable and doesn’t even require a network connection to work. Then there are IoT ecosystem management apps like InSync and Wife, the first of which looks to be a first-party Infinix app, with support for a range of Infinix intelligent TVs and an Infinix laptop.

Returning to our original point about XOS 10, there is a lot to cover here, and we barely scratched the surface. To summarize the experience, it is fluid and pleasant in terms of performance but chaotic in terms of organization. Thankfully, most of this can be done yourself with a bit of time and tweaking, and the result could be a solid Android 11 experience.

To Be Continued…